Particle depletion of diesel exhaust restores allergen-induced lung-protective surfactant protein D in human lungs.

Rationale: Exposure to air pollution is linked with increased asthma morbidity and mortality. To understand pathological processes linking air pollution and allergen exposures to asthma pathophysiology, we investigated the effect of coexposure to diesel exhaust (DE) and aeroallergen on immune regulatory proteins in human airways.

Methods: Fourteen allergen-sensitised participants completed this randomised, double-blinded, cross-over, controlled exposure study.